Film-splicer.



J. THMSON, DECD.

ms. 1. THAISON, ADMINISTRATRIX.

FILM-SPLICER. APPLICATION men mu. to, 1916.

mwfiwimm Patented em. 12,1916.

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JOHN THAISON, 0F RIOGRANDE, TEXAS; MRS. JOHN THAISON ADIVIINISTBATRIK 0F SAID JOHN THAISON, DECEASED.

FILM-SPLICER.

Lltilgjtid.

Application filed January 10, 1916.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known, that I,J01-1N TI-IAISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Riogrande city, in the county of Starr, State of Texas, have invented certain new and use tnl Improvements in Film-Splicers; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appe'rtains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to film splicers, and may be particularly associated with means for connecting the broken ends of moving picture film or strip.

As is well known to those familiar with moving picture projecting machinery, the film employed in connection with the apparatus often becomes broken, which necessi tates immediate connection of the broken ends. To temporarily cement the broken ends of the film to'continue the operation of the machine, the broken ends must be overlapped a coi'isiderable distance to effect a positive connection, which obl iterates a part of the picture and causes a jmnpingor lack of sl'noothness of the picture when projected afterwards. Another disadvantage to this practice is that the time consumed in effecting the connection causes inconvenience to the machine operator, as well as annoyance t0 the audience. Again, by this method, it is necessary before the display film is rewound to further exhibit same, that the cementcd ends must be disconnected, realined, and properly and permanently cemented to prevent misframing of the fihn in subsequent exhibitions. Other methods for the attainment of the desired ends have been re sorted to, but all have proven inadequate or in'ipractical.

It is the primary object of my invention to overcome the objections common to such methods, and toprovide a simple, incxpcnsive, and thoroughly eliicient means for temporarily connecting the broken ends of picture strip without loss of time or inconvenience to the operator, and without reducing the length of the film.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for the purposes described, by the use of which the machine ()1'E'tlj30ll during the rewinding function may at once determine the exact location of the broken secti'n necessary to be permanently con- Specification of Letters Patent.

' to that between the openings 7 in the said rates-reel se t. 12, acre.

Serial No. 71,250.

nected to repair the same permanently for further exhibition.

\Vith these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds,-the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims. The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure'l, is a fragmentary side elevation of a conventional form of moving picture projecting apparatus, illustrating diagrammatically the applicationof a device constructed in accordance with my invention, to the film used in connection therewith. Fig. 2, is an enlarged plan view of the plate constituting my splicer, and a fragmentary end of film, and Fig. 3, is ah enlarged section taken substantially upon line 33 of Fig. 2, and illustrating the .splicer as applied to a film.

Belerringmore particularly to the draw:

ings, and (3 indicate respectively the broken ends of a conventional form of pic ture strip or film, the said film being pro: vided as isusual adjacent with feed openings'7 whereby the film may be properly ted to and through the project ing apparatus.

In the attainment of the desired ends, I emplo" a plate s of thin metal of such nature as to be capable of fiexion, the said plate being adapted to be interpoiied between to connect the said broken film ends. This plateis of relatively short duration, and is in width equal to that of the picture strip. To facilitate the ready connection of the vided. These teeth may be struck or bent from the top face-0t the metal, and are arranged in longitudinal series adjacent the lateral edges of the plate 8. The teeth are spaced inwardly from. the lateral edges of the plate a distance equal to the distance between the openings 7 and the lateral. edges of the picture film, in order that the said teeth may project thrmIg-h and readily engage within the openings in the said film. The teeth also, are spaced from each other longitudinally of the plate a distance equal the drawing, the teeth of lateral edges .plate with the film ends, teeth 9 are proeach series are arranged in transverse alinement throughout the extent of the plate. It will also be observed that the teeth of each series are inclined in opposite directions, that is, the-teeth adjacent the opposite ends of the plate are inclined inwardly therefrom, and it is apparent that from this construction, that when the broken ends of the film are secured over the teeth, one to each extremity respectively of the plate, pull or strain upon the film ends in o posite directionsill tend to securely bind the same to the base of the teeth. I preferably construct the teeth or detents 9 to provide points 10 at their free ends, and are of a width at their bases substantially equal to that of the feed openings 7 on the picture strip. This construction enables the plate to be quickly applied to the film ends, and to create at the base of each. tooth a relatively secure binding action.

From this description, it is apparent that when a film becomes broken during the exhibition of pictures, one of the plates may be quickly applied to effect a substantially positive connection between the said film ends. The arrangement of a plurality of teeth upon the plate, while not essential, is

resorted to in order to insure engagement of at least one or more of the teeth with the film ends during rapid application of the device. It is also apparent that the fiexibility of the plate 8 enables the same to con-' form readily to the curvature of the film when being wound upon a reel. While the plate is by no means of such thickness or Weight as to hinder the operation of the projecting mechanism, itis apparent that during the rewinding operation the same may readily be observed by the operator, Whereupon he may detach the plate and properly cement, .or in any preferred manner secure It will also be observed the broken'ends. that owing to the substantially short duration of the cdnnecting plate, the continuity of the picture strip will not be materially impaired during the exhibition.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a plate, teeth arranged on said plate adjacent the lateral edges and the ends thereof, the said teeth being alined longitudinally and laterally, and the said teeth projecting in- .wa-rdly from the adjacent ends of said plate, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, a

plate, a series of teeth arranged in longitudinalalinement adjacent the lateral edges of sald plate, andthe teeth adjacent the ends of said plate being inclined inwardly therefrom, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, a plate, a series of teeth arranged in longitudinal alinement' adjacent each of the lateral edges of said plate, the teeth adjacent the ends of said plate being inclined inwardly therefrom, and the teeth of each series being alined transversely, substantially as de-' width at its base'equal tothe width of said feed openings, and the teeth of each series being inclined inwardly from the adjacent ends of said plate substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN THAISON.

Witnesses:

J UAN HnvoJovA, DOMINGO L. GARzA. 

